Julen Lopetegui faced the media for the first time as West Ham boss and left rivals Spurs and Arsenal completely rattled.
When the Hammers appointed Julen Lopetegui many were unsure whether he was the right man to replace David Moyes.
After one press conference the Spaniard is already living rent free in the heads of Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal as he quickly turned doubt into hope.
Karren Brady wanted Ange Postecoglou at West Ham when backing him to be a hit in the Premier League.
But Spurs took affirmative action to end a cycle of boring managers and football. Now Tottenham have a charismatic boss playing front-footed, attacking football.
That’s something West Ham fans have been craving and Arsenal have had ever since Mikel Arteta became their manager.
There were sexier names on West Ham’s reported managerial shortlist when they were searching for Moyes’ replacement.
New Hammers boss lays down his marker
But after flirting with Ruben Amorim and being linked with the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Paulo Fonseca, the Hammers went from ex Wolves boss Lopetegui.
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The 57-year-old is tasked with combining style and substance at West Ham while closing the gap once again on the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.
The gulf between the Hammers and the Gunners means that is a very tall order indeed.
But West Ham could and should certainly be pushing the likes of Spurs, as they had been doing in recent seasons under Moyes.
West Ham have managed something neither Arsenal or Spurs have done in recent seasons by winning a major trophy. A European one at that.
That ended a 43-year major trophy drought and gave the Hammers bragging rights over their London rivals like Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.
West Ham’s new boss officially took charge yesterday and went in front of the press to mark the occasion.
Lopetegui rattles Spurs and Arsenal in first West Ham address
And Lopetegui left rivals Spurs and Arsenal rattled in first West Ham address.
Having been heavily linked with AC Milan in the summer, Lopetegui was asked why he chose West Ham.
The former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla boss was also asked about his ambitions for the club.
His answer left Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and other London rivals raging.
Because Lopetegui has stated that he sees West Ham as the London club. And he promised to ‘make a big noise’ as he pointed out West Ham’s superior stadium capacity, fans and huge potential as reasons the Hammers are a major threat to the Gunners, Spurs and co.
“I am very happy to be here,” Lopetegui said, as reported on the club’s official site.
“This is where I want to be. I’m at a big club, in my opinion the London club, and I think we have big potential.
“You look at the stadium, the fans – everything is in place here, we have a great environment. In terms of the squad, I think we have a great platform to go out and make a big noise.
“I want to take advantage of those strengths and help take the club to the next step…
“We have one of the highest attendances in Europe with 62,500 supporters (and plans to raise that to 66,000).”
Lopetegui also went on to repeat his bold statement in separate interviews with the likes of CBS Sports in the US.
West Ham are massive and Lopetegui wants to show why
The comments were instantly picked up on by fans of Tottenham and Arsenal in particular on social media.
Many responded in mocking tones. But the reaction spoke volumes. Already rattled by West Ham winning a trophy since their last taste of silverware, the Gunners and Spurs bit hard.
From West Ham’s point of view it was extremely refreshing to hear such a bullish approach.
It is a far cry from the more dour – albeit some would argue realist – demeanour of Moyes, who liked to play things down and put Arsenal, Spurs and the established top six on a pedestal.
Now Lopetegui has made it clear he’s here to try and knock them off it.
And West Ham’s rivals don’t like it one little bit.
With Tim Steidten leading the operation after building that all-conquering Bayer Leverkusen team, who’s to say the Hammers can’t.
West Ham fans like to remind everyone they are massive everywhere they go.
Now Lopetegui wants to have Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea looking over their shoulders.
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